Hey everyone,
I got quite a bit of information on converting my Athearns over to DCC. To everyone that helped with advice and information-THANKS!
Now, I have heard that Life-Like has DCC locomotives? Is this true? I didn’t get much from their website when I tried to look it up. Someone told me that both the Proto2000 and 1000 series were DCC ready. Is that correct?
Just want to find out so I can plan to add more to the fleet. Thanks in advance.
-Wolv33
Sure,
Your railroad is your railroad. Rather than painting all my locomotives in my own railroad’s color scheme (actually could not decide on a scheme), I kept all the original road’s schemes. Besides, I grew up in IL and was quite used to seeing CB&Q and BN schemes roll through our town frequently. We had secondary tracks to the Rock Island Line RR, which I also enjoyed watching the maroon and yellow and blue and white trains roll through. I added the Santa Fe and BNSF after BN merged. That is mainly what rolls through there now.
It all depends on whether you are modeling after a prototype or doing your own thing. I have a little of both to my railroad. Do whatever you enjoy.
-Wolv33
Wolv33
Some Protos are more ‘ready’ than others. Some have sockets to plug in decoders and some you have to hard wire. You have to change out the bulbs in all instances.
Mike Tyl
DCC Dealer
Green Diamond Hobbies
The IMRL (soon to be the “ICE”) also owns a large piece of the ROCK (along the Mississippi). So do other roads!
Cool!!! Thanks Larry.
I wonder if their Proto1000 series is, or is adaptable to that… though I haven’t seen much in that line for Diesel road power-mostly passenger lines. Thanks again.
-Wolv33
In addition to the P2K, I would look at the Atlas Master series. These come with a DCC dual mode chip (can run on DC or DCC depending on how you locate a plug on the decoder). IMHO, the Atlas Master locos are superior to the P2K, not only in the smoothness of the motor, but also in detail. You might also check out the Athearn Genesis line, as their quality is about the same as P2K.
Of course, one must buy whoever makes their road. So my RI collection is a mix of P2K (8), Atlas (4), Kato (1), Stewart (3), and Athearn (7).
Is that the ROCK or ROCK ISLAND.
They are the same!
The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad went by:
CRI&P
Rock Island Lines
RI
THE ROCK
Thanks for the reply,
I too model the RI lines. However, I use 5 different roads with all their original color schemes, and then group them under my own railroad corporation title. My layout/corporation is known as the Mid-Western Doubleline RR, and is comprised of RI, CB&Q, BN, BNSF, Santa Fe and Amtrak. Plus, I have interchange roads as well for my staging area-Conrail, Chessie, CSX, NS, CP, SP and UP. For the interchange roads, I just have a couple of each-or enough diesel power to build up several trains. On my main roads, with the exception of Amtrak, I have at least 10-15 diesels each, and the fleet is growing.
My RI models are mainly the Maroon and Yellow scheme with ROCK ISLAND as the logo and ROCK ISLAND herald, and the blue and white scheme with THE ROCK logo and ROUTE ROCK herald. Besides Athearn, can you tell me where I can get DCC compatible blue and white RI diesels and rolling stock?
Thanks…
-Wolv33
The Rock lines are now known as Iowa Interstate, but a lot of the branch lines have been torn up-at least from what I have seen first-hand in Illinois.
Visit the Rock Island Line Historical Society-they have many pics of rolling stock and locomotive power that fell under several paint schemes.
-Wolv33
I like some SD60’s in THE ROCK paint.Like it never went out.Will that look allright.
The P2K line of locomotives is DCC ready.All you need to do is plop a decoder in and you are ready to go.This is what some call plug and play.Now,some of the newer Atlas locomotives are DCC equip.
Alas, only Athearn makes a good ROCK blue loco (there are others - I said a GOOD one!). Maybe Atlas or LL P2K will make one SOMEDAY! By a recent poll on the Yahoo RI forum, a blue GP7 cane in third on the “wish list”!
There ARE other makers of blue rolling stock, however. Accurail is one maker.
Listen,There is no reason why you can’t model the Rock Island like it was still around.I know a modeler that models the NYC in modern times as if the PC merger never happen.Do what you want and enjoy doing in the hobby.
It could be a good difficult project, but you could always purchase an undecorated Proto2000 GP7 and MicroScale decals of THE ROCK, and put it all together.
Hmmm, now there is an idea!
-Wolv33
Thanks Mike. I am always interested in valuable input like this. I have saved your info to the hard drive.
Thanks again.
-Wolv33
If there are any specifics send me an email direct at:
website will be up soon
Mike Tyl
Thanks again Mike.
I added you to my favorites and saved your email.
-Wolv33